10 July 2007

On Welcome Back, Kotter, Gabe Kaplan's character was often the butt of practical jokes by his group of delinquent students, the Sweathogs. In real life, though, Kaplan has always enjoyed playing pranks on others.

Kaplan's new book, Kotter's Back: E-mails From a Faded Celebrity to a Bewildered World (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $15.95), features dozens of e-mail pranks the comedian and poker champ has pulled.

In one, he tells a publisher he has slept with more women than Wilt Chamberlain and wants to write a book about it. In another, he tries to join Mensa. In yet another, he attempts to persuade the U.S. Postal Service to create a Gabe Kaplan stamp.